Brethren

Often, in the New Testament, Christians are called brethren. The term brethren refers to the family relationship between God our Father, Christ our brother, and the fellow members of the body of Christ. Members of the church are the adopted children of God by the process of adoption He has described in His Word. Along with His only begotten Son, God the Father has adopted us as His children and has made us His heirs together with Jesus of the eternal home in His Glory. With God as our Father, the risen Savior as our brother, and the Holy Spirit as our guide, we are one family: “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Rom. 8:14-17).

Paul pleads for the church to be in unity, peace and harmony in Christ: “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). Without unity in doctrine with Christ, there cannot be a family relationship: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:12). Almost all New Testament writers remind us of our responsibilities as brethren, members of God’s family, to work together, guided by the gospel of Christ, caring for each other and helping each other remain faithful.

The teachings of Jesus often use nature to illustrate the close family relationship between Christ and His sanctified adopted children. The illustration of the vine and branches recorded in John 15:1-8 is an example. Jesus said: “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (v. 5) He also affirmed: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit” (vv. 1-2). The close association of Christ to the members of His church is shown by the branches being attached to and drawing strength from the vine. A useless branch can be taken away, cut off as a family member.

Paul speaks of the adopted children of God, added to the vine, as being “grafted in among them and became partaker with them” (Rom. 11:17). He also writes of the planned adoption into God’s family: “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will” (Eph. 1:5). Peter refers to the brethren in the church as “A spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). And Paul stresses the need to keep the sanctified family of God pure and undefiled as he writes to the church in Corinth: “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘and do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ Says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:14-18).

Paolo DiLuca

Paolo preaches for the Bridge Street Church of Christ, (1139 S. Bridge Street - PO Box 292; New Martinsville WV 26155)

Behold Your Mother!

By Andrew Beasley 5 years old – Mom, I love you 12 years old – Mom, I can’t stand you 16 years old – My mother is very annoying 18 years old – I’m leaving this house 25 years old – Mom, you were right. 30 years old – I want to go to my mom’s house 50 years old – I don’t want to lose my mother 70 years old – I would give up everything to have my mom here with me.     The importance of a mother cannot be understated and taking one day out of each year to honor the impact that mothers have on the lives of their children is not nearly enough.     In the most challenging hours of his human life, Jesus looked to His mother to make sure that she would be cared for. Think about that. With the weight of the sins of the world upon Him, the abuse of the Roman scourge having marked Him and the agony of the Roman cross encompassing Him, Christ still made provision for His mother.     That does not happen without a mother who had been a great blessing to Him.     So today we honor our mothers, and we thank you for every single blessing you have gifted your children with throughout their lives.

- Andrew Beasley serves as a minister with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about

It Was Only a Nickel

By Donna Faughn       When I was growing up as a little girl, we lived next door to my paternal grandparents. Those were much simpler times and life seemed easier. We lived within one block of a small ice cream stand that could actually be seen from my grandparent’s porch. A small ice cream cone cost 5 cents – one nickel! (I know some of you are thinking of just how old I am!)     On one particularly hot summer day, my grandpa was sitting out on the front porch and I decided to ask him if I could have a nickel to get an ice cream cone. He reached into his pocket and held out a nickel to me, but before he let me take it from him, he said these words: “Don’t ride your bicycle to the ice cream stand.” No explanation, just don’t do it.     Well, as children are prone to do, I thought I knew better than he did. I thought if I rode my bike I could get back home more quickly before the ice cream melted. So I disobeyed him and rode my bike, never giving a thought to the fact that he could see me disobeying.     I rode to the stand. I got my ice cream cone. I started riding home on the sidewalk, but when I came to the curb to cross the street, my bike went off the curb…and you guessed it…my ice cream bounced out of the cone and onto the concrete.     Never being one who gives up easily on what she wants, I went back to grandpa and asked for another nickel. I can still hear his answer inside my head. “You disobeyed me, and you cannot have another nickel.” I cried and pleaded that it was only a nickel, but the answer was still no.     Many years have come and gone, but I still remember the lesson I learned that day about obeying your parents and grandparents. He knew more than I did because he had lived more of life. In my childlike wisdom I couldn’t see what might happen if I disobeyed. I thought I knew an easier way, a better way, a quicker way. I was wrong.     I tell you this story today as a reminder to parents and grandparents to stand up for teaching obedience to your children and grandchildren. We live in a world which has placed children in charge in many instances, even though they have not had the experience to know how to handle certain things in life.     Teach them to respect you and your word. Let them know that you always have their best interest at heart even if they can’t understand it at the moment. Don’t try to meet their every desire. That just isn’t realistic in life and the sooner they learn that, the better off they will be.     It was only a nickel, but it taught me a great lesson in life.   “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you…” Deut. 5:16

- Donna Faughn is the wife and mother of preachers and is a frequent speaker at women’s events. She is a member of the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY.  She may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org

Be Grateful For Godly Dads

 

By Adam Faughn

    In the culture in which we find ourselves, being a godly dad is not easy. Certainly, it is never easy to be faithful to the Lord, but we are living in times in which the values and actions that it takes to be a faithful, godly dad are completely undermined by our society.

    As such, we should be very thankful for those men who step up and seek to be what God would have them to be and not what society tells them is good or right.

    For example, we should be grateful for those dads who discipline their children, helping to mold them into people who respect authority and boundaries. Our society tells us that parents just need to let their children find themselves and that discipline is cruel and restrictive. Scripture makes it clear, though, that discipline—when done in love and by God's standard -- is a sign of true godliness. Instead of making a dad feel bad for disciplining his children, how about you thank him for doing his best?

    Additionally, we should be grateful for those dads who put worship and the activities of the church first in their homes. Society will tell dads to make sure they raise their children to be "well rounded," so missing some worship services is fine, so long as the kids get all sorts of experiences. A godly dad, though, will show his children that nothing comes before worshiping the Almighty, and that might mean saying "no" to some things that would have been neat experiences. Thank those dads for showing their children what it means to have priorities in the right order.

   Also, we should be grateful for dads who work hard for their families. A lot of dads get accolades (maybe they are "likes" on social media) for all the fun stuff they do or that their kids get to do. Those things are fine, but we should also be thanking the dad who may not make as much money for all the fun things, but who works so hard so that his family has what they need, including a fine example of masculinity.

    And one more, we should be grateful for dads who show humility and admit their faults. Many in our society believe it is a sign of weakness to ever admit fault and ask forgiveness. A godly man, however, knows he is not perfect--though he is striving to be like Jesus--and is humble enough to seek to be better, even in his family. When you see a dad admitting wrong, do not gloss over it, but give that dad a word of thanks for his humility and example.

    There are many other areas which stand out from the culture if one is striving to be a godly dad, but these are enough to remind each of us of how difficult it is. If and when you see any of our dads at Central excelling in the ways that God would have him do, take a moment and thank him for being what God calls him to be and not what society is trying to make him be. Thank the Lord for godly dads!

- Adam Faughn preaches for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org Visit the Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

The Treasures of A Mother's Heart

 

By Adam Faughn     One of my favorite Biblical phrases to ponder around this time of year comes from a description of Mary, the mother of Jesus. In the latter part of Luke 2, we read the account of Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem and His family frantically searching for him. When He is finally found, He is in the temple, interacting with the religious leaders of His day.     The well-known ending of that account is a text that is sometimes used to encourage young people to be like Jesus in their growing-up years, as we are told that He "increased in wisdom and stature and favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52).     It is something found just before that, though, that often comes to my mind this time of year, as we are told that Mary "treasured up all these things in her heart" (v.51). What a beautiful way to express the love of a mother and how Mary just held on to all of these moments, even if she could not have fully understood what each one of them meant in full.     Today, our culture takes some time to think about mothers. While this day is not easy for everyone, it is still a good thing to do as a society because mothers have an impact on our society that is basically impossible to measure. Certainly, as people of God, we know that those mothers who follow the Bible and seek to influence their children for the Lord are of tremendous importance. They are not only helping to shape the future of a community, but they are impacting eternity.     Go back to that phrase about Mary, though. To treasure things in her heart; what a beautiful way to word this. I am not really sure if anyone but a mother can understand that wording. As a dad, I know there are memories and experiences that my heart holds, but it just seems that mothers are able to do that at a level no one else can understand.     Knowing that, it reminds those of us who still have our mothers with us that we should be trying to live in such a way that the "treasures" of the hearts of our mother are pleasant. They should be able to know that we are trying to show them how our lives honor Christ and seek to reflect His glory in the world. They should treasure, not that we sin, but that we have penitent hearts that strive to do better each day.     And, of course, for those who are mothers, I pray that the treasures of your heart are a great comfort to you. When you think of your children, I hope you are able to focus on times when they did their best to follow Christ. Do you see pictures in your mind of them reading their Bible or singing during a worship service? I hope you can picture them serving others to God's glory or trying to teach a friend the Gospel.     When Mary treasured up what was going on in e young life of Jesus, she thought of His actions, His words, His dedication to the Father, and His desire to be in the Scriptures. On this Mother's Day, I pray that these are the types of things that all of our godly mothers can picture when they reach into the treasures of their hearts and think of their children.

- Adam Faughn preaches for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org Visit the Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

Strengthening The Family Of God

By Jeff Arnette     In the beauty of life in the mountains, the call to foster family, community, and care for one another is both a challenge and a necessity. As followers of Christ, we are called to the family of God and without this focus we will drift apart simply due to time restraints and distance from each other. If we can embrace the teachings of the principals set forth in Scripture and actively try to foster a sense of community and family, we can become a true beacon of hope and love. Family As A Foundation For The Church.     The family has always been important to God’s plan for us. In Proverbs 22:6 it says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” This expresses the importance of teaching our children about God and helps them in future. It also tells us that faith-filled family life builds the foundation for the church because it fosters the same environment. Building a Strong Church Family.     Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Being an active member of the church, whether its for worship, Bible study, or fellowship strengthens the connections we have with one another. In our busy lives, these connections could not be more important. How Do We Accomplish This?     Spending time together outside of the worship service couldn’t be more powerful toward this purpose. Small groups are also important here. Being able to spend time together studying, fellowshipping, and enjoying food or snacks outside of the regular worship times helps us learn and grow as Christians. This also helps us make sure that no one feels left out or isolated from the group.     In small town churches we enjoy many blessings that larger churches cannot create without serious effort. We get to know each other personally, know about the lives and struggles of each other, and enjoy a friendship that draws us together. By grounding our efforts to live New Testament Christianity in the family dynamic we can love and support one another. As such we become living testimonies of the Family of God, shining as lights in a world that desperately needs somewhere to belong, find support, and feel loved.  Heading

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/

When Life Comes to an End

 

By Donna Faughn     I have spent the last several weeks at the hospital sitting with my only living aunt on my dad’s side of the family while her husband was slowly dying. To say it was difficult would be an understatement. You see, any time you sit at a hospital for extended periods of time is very hard. It was hard to watch him losing his battle with illness, and it was hard to watch my aunt losing her husband of 64 years. They never had any children and were totally devoted to one another.      As we watched his life slipping away day after day we began to talk about what he had done in his life. He was a naval officer and spent time working as a medic during battles. He was a retired Memphis City Police Officer. In fact, he was the officer on the balcony with Dr. Martin Luther King when he was shot. In his retirement, he was a locksmith helping hundreds of people by opening doors when they couldn’t unlock them or replacing door handles and locks so that the occupants might be safe. He was a “doer.”      He was a little bit “quirky” and could make a person laugh when they might not feel like it. I loved his sense of humor and the way he could always make me feel special. He cared about others and always tried to make them feel like they mattered.  He was fun to be around and always had a lighthearted comment to make. He loved to make people happy.      I could go on and on with so many things about his life that would impress you, but the most important thing about his life was that he was a Christian and he served others. He loved his wife more than any other person on this earth. He loved me and my family, and he dearly loved his friends, Rick and Cyndie, who lived close to them and helped them in so many ways.     Today he will be laid to rest, but the memories will last a lifetime.     As Paul said about himself, “I have fought the good fight, I have  finished the race, I have  kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8a).     Uncle Mike was comforted by these words in his last few days of life. May Aunt Martha be comforted by these same words for all the days of her life.

- Donna Faughn is the wife and mother of preachers and is a frequent speaker at women’s events. She is a member of the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY.  She may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org

Why Wouldn’t We Want Guidance For Our Home?

By Wes Garland     When you look into many families, you see that a lot of them think that what they are doing, concerning their family, is working. They think that as long as it is working for them, then it is ok. I've even seen parents when being addressed by others in giving advice, get really upset and have hard feelings towards the ones trying to help. NOW UNDERSTAND THIS, I’m speaking about someone giving honest, good advice, and not forcing their opinion or just casting judgment based on their own thoughts. We do not have the right to force on others the opinion of ourselves (Romans 14). But when it comes to an honest observation, or a sense of help from someone who sees something that is truly apparent to them, or they have personally experienced whether it is professionally or personal, we always need to be open to being better. To be open, one has to be willing to receive information and to acknowledge that they do not know everything themselves. This comes through humility, honesty, and a desire to be better than we are now.     Ask yourself these questions: •Do we desire to be better as a spouse, parent, or child? •Do we desire to have our homes to be the fullest that it can be? •Do we desire to lead our family to God and be the best we can be? •Do we desire to be pleasing in the sight of God as a family? •Do we desire to hear those words, “Well done?”     If we answered yes to these questions, then this will only come through guidance and help from God and others. We have to realize that we need help and that we cannot reach these results in a manner that is pleasing to God without guidance. This is why we have older people to teach the younger (Titus 2), those who have personal experience to help those who are in the same situations (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), and most importantly God, who has given us everything to guide our way (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3).     If we want true success as a family, we must have guidance!     Do you want guidance?

- Wesley Garland preaches for Warners Chapel church of Christ in Clemmons, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://warnerschapelchurchofchrist.org/

Parental Honor: Care

By Clifton Angel     “Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2–3). Parental honor requires that children comply (Ephesians 6:1), credit (Proverbs 1:8), commend (Proverbs 10:1), and, finally and prominently, care.     Care. Our former three thoughts certainly are ways in which one can bring honor to his father and mother and are necessary principles to follow. However, it is this final thought which fully reveals the meaning of God’s commandment: “Honor thy father and thy mother.” It has to do with “repaying” our parents for the care they provided us as children. As time progresses and bodies decay, parents may require assistance from their children—financially, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old” (Proverbs 23:22). Remember, the principle command is now binding also under the law of Christ (cf. Ephesians 6:2–3). Far too many have neglected this binding also under the law of Christ (cf. Ephesians 6:2–3). Far too many have neglected this serious command. “Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer” (Proverbs 28:24). In his instruction for the church’s guidelines to providing for widows in need, Paul wrote to Timothy, “But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God ... But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:4, 8). Also, it is written, “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother” (Proverbs 30:11). One such generation lived during the days of Jesus. Reading Matthew 15:1–9 adds to the numerous ways in which the Pharisees mutilated God’s law given them by Moses. Some of the religious elites made it their tradition that if one designated a financial gift to God (“Corban,” cf. Mark 7:1–13), it would excuse them from having to provide financially for their parents in need. Thereby, in their minds, they did not violate the law of Moses (this is the definition of being self-righteous—self-fabricated righteousness, not according to God’s word, cf. Matthew 5:20). Jesus said to them, “Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:7–9, ASV).     Compliance, accreditation, and commendation are pertinent methods of showing honor to godly fathers and mothers; however, it is the care afforded them in their times of need that fulfills God’s command, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” May we honor our parents, and foremost, may we honor our God (cf. Revelation 4:11).

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/

Parental Honor: Credit and Commend

By Clifton Angel     “Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2–3). We’ve noted the need for children to honor their parents by complying to their authority: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). Now, let us consider two additional ways whereby we may exhibit parental honor.     Credit. Once we get past our teenage years of thinking we know everything and that our parents know nothing [at least, that is the stereotype—not all teenage children follow the stereotype], and especially as we grow to the point of needing to provide for ourselves, we begin to appreciate more the training, teaching, presence, support, and discipline provided us by our parents. Furthermore, there comes a time when a man must “leave father and mother and cleave unto his wife” (Ephesians 5:29; Matthew 19:5; Genesis 2:24). It is during these times in a child’s life that he can really begin to “give credit where credit is due,” which is actually a Biblical principle (cf. Romans 13:7). Children accrediting their parents for their hard work, knowledge, and wisdom is another way they may bring honor to their father and mother. “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Proverbs 1:8). In this context, it is a real temptation to allow parental interference into one’s marriage (e.g. the husband who expects his wife to do things the same way his mother did them, or the wife who complains about her husband’s faults to her mother, et. al.). Such would be false honor toward parents, since it dishonors God and His design for marriage. Great parental honor is accomplished when spouses use their parents’ former training, wisdom, and discipline for true betterment of their own marriage.     Commend. Continuing with the process of life, maturing offspring can give parental honor with their ways and their words. “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother” (Proverbs 10:1). “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice” (Proverbs 23:24–25). Righteous living commends righteous parents. Furthermore, words of praise also bring them honor. Of the virtuous woman, it is said, “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (Proverbs 31:28).     Complying, in the Lord, with our parents while living under their roof is honorable. Crediting our parents by following their godly training when we are no longer under their roof is honorable. Commending them with our ways and our words as we mature, marry, and multiply our own household is honorable. Lord willing, let us consider how the command demands we also care for our parents.

Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/

Parental Honor: Comply

By Clifton Angel     God created the family unit. As the Creator, He knows what is best for every family. Every family would do well to heed God’s direction for family life. One such direction is: “Honor thy father and thy mother.”     This charge was first recorded in the decalogue of Moses. “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12). After forty years of wilderness wanderings, Moses rehearsed God’s law to the second generation of redeemed Israelites. “Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee” (Deuteronomy 5:16).     Despite the hesitancy many have in the religious world, Christians are not bound by the law of Moses, including “The Ten Commandments.” Jesus fulfilled (cf. Matthew 5:17), abolished (cf. Ephesians 2:15), and crucified (cf. Colossians 2:14) the law of Moses. Does this relieve Christians from the charge of parental honor? God forbid. Many principles and commands found in the law of Moses can also be found in the law of Christ. In fact, the apostle Paul, in a series of directed commands, wrote to the church at Ephesus, “Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2–3). Therefore, Christians also are bound with the charge of parental honor like the Israelites. What is included in keeping the Christian command, “Honor thy father and mother”? We will summarize parental honor with four thoughts: Comply, Credit, Commend, and Care.     Comply. When Paul penned to the Ephesian church, “Honor thy father and mother,” he preceded the command with these words: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). Honoring parents begins in childhood. It begins with submitting to them, listening to them, and learning from them. Inseparable from the charge for children to be obedient to their parents is the charge for parents to rear their children in the Lord: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Such rearing requires training, teaching, presence, support, and discipline, all in the Lord. Honoring parents begins in childhood, and all children would do well to learn to obey their parents, in the Lord. The Proverbs writer vividly reveals the gravity of children being disobedient to parents: “The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it” (Proverbs 30:17; cf. “disobedient to parents,” Romans 1:18–32).

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/

Raising Our Kids to Be Successful Socially

By Brian Mitchell       In Lk.2:52, the Word of God states that Jesus “grew in wisdom, and in stature and in favor with God and man.” Thus, Jesus grew intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially.  As we think about raising children to be successful, the early life of Jesus I believe is given to serve as a pretty successful model for child development. If we can help our children grow in these 4 areas, especially spiritually, then we have given them everything they will need to be truly successful in life in all areas. Having discussed the first 3 areas already, in this last lesson we will turn our thought to helping our children grow socially.      The importance of social growth cannot be overstated when it comes to developing a successful life. God did not create man to live in isolation, but rather as a part of society in general.  It is as the old saying goes, “no man is an island unto himself.” God made us social creatures who desire contact with others—Gen.2:18. Thus, we do not live our lives in a vacuum, but rather as a part of society influencing and being influenced by those around us.     The importance of social growth cannot be overstated when it comes to developing a successful life. God did not create man to live in isolation, but rather as a part of society in general.  It is as the old saying goes, “no man is an island unto himself.” God made us social creatures who desire contact with others—Gen.2:18. Thus, we do not live our lives in a vacuum, but rather as a part of society influencing and being influenced by those around us.     So in our efforts to raise our children to be successful, let us not forget to teach them how to interact with and be a positive part of society. I think one of the biggest keys to developing socially is learning to be content.  We live in a world that breeds and fosters discontentment. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements which impress upon our minds the desire for more to the point where we feel we deserve more.     A lot of people don’t develop socially because they were never taught that sometimes the world says no to us. Discontentment leads to worldliness and the pursuit of worldly desires which are in direct conflict with spiritual desires and responsibilities. Mt.6:24, says that no man can serve 2 masters. Thus, we must teach our young people that “life does not in the abundance of things we possess” (Lk.12:15). When it does the things we possess end up possessing us instead of the other way around.     Thus, teach your children to lay up treasures in heaven, and be content with the things God has blessed us with. Our children can’t live in a vacuum, regardless of how much we may wish they could. Rather they are called to live in this world and to do so in a positive manner which brings glory to God and draws people to His Son. May we all endeavor to raise children, who like Jesus, grow in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man.

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net

Raising Our Children to Be Successful Spiritually

By Brian Mitchell       In the sports world, it is said that championships are won or lost in the preparation.  In other words, those who put the most into their preparation, usually have the greatest success when it is time to put that preparation  into  practice.  The same principle applies in Christianity, especially as they relate to our children.  Those young people who go on from their parents to live successful lives, especially in the spiritual sense, are many times the ones who were prepared the best before they left.     It is for this reason that Paul exhorts parents to “bring their children up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph.6:4). Preparation to be successful spiritually involves 2 aspects as we see from an example in the OT—Teaching by example—Deut.6:1-3 and Teaching by word—Deut.6:6-9.  As we have noted, Jesus grew in intellect, in stature, and in favor with God and man. In favor with God indicates that Jesus grew spiritually as He walked this earth and following His example of growth, we too must help our own children understand the importance of continued spiritual growth.     In this lesson we will examine how we can help our children grow in spirit. Real and lasting spirituality comes from a close and personal relationship with God and that is something that every person must develop for themselves. Thus, the greatest thing we can share with our children is our own personal relationship with God so that they might develop their own. In the end they must develop their own because no one can live off of another’s relationship forever.     Perhaps the song “Without Him” expresses best the blessings which come from a close relationship with God and the consequences of not having that relationship. “Without Him I would be nothing, without Him I’d surely fail. Without Him I would be drifting, like a ship without a sail. Without Him I would be dying, without Him I’d be enslaved. Without Him life would be hopeless, but with Jesus, thank God, I’m saved.”     What blessings can our children expect to enjoy when they grow closer to God? The blessings of God’s comfort—2 Cor.1:3-4. In times of sorrow, when facing death—Ps.23:1-6, when overwhelmed by the trials of life—Jm.1:2-6 and when weighted down with concerns for others—Eph.6:21-22.      We have the assurances of God. That He cares for us—1 Pet.5:7, that He will never forsake us—Heb.13:5-6 and that all things will work out  for  our  ultimate  good—Rom.8:28.  We  have  the  promise  of heavenly peace—Jn.14:23, Jn.16:33 and Prov.16:7. These are just a few of  the  blessings  that  we  and  our  children  can  enjoy  by  growing  up spiritually.

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net

Raising Our Children to Be Successful Physically

By Brian Mitchell       To be successful in every area of life is something that I am sure every parent desires for their children. What exactly it means to be successful and in which areas should they desire to be most successful; well, those are different subjects altogether. That is what this series of lessons is all about. It is a series in which we are discussing what we as parents need to teach our children and in what areas we ought to encourage them to develop in.     As we considered last week, if you want to know how your kids need to develop, there is no place better to go than the life of Jesus. Lk.2:42—Jesus grew in wisdom (intellect), stature (physically), and in favor with God (spiritually) and man (socially). Thus, as we continue through this short series we will discuss the importance of our children growing in each of these areas. We will consider how they can do so, the challenges they will face when attempting to do so, and the blessings they can expect to enjoy when they do so.     Last week we considered helping our children to grow intellectually (intellect—the ability to reason, think). How? By developing and maintaining proper attitudes, by learning how to make proper decisions and by understanding the importance of setting proper goals in life. All of these areas are affected by the way one thinks, and so if we help our children to mature intellectually, they can be successful in all of these areas. Yes, they will face challenges along the way, but they can be successful and they will be blessed when they meet those challenges in the right way.     This week we will consider the fact that Jesus grew in stature. That is Jesus grew physically, as well as, mentally, spiritually and socially. Of all the points that we will cover in these sermons, this is the one area where we will take a few liberties as far as the material covered. I think, however, that as we think together about the points I would like to make, they may not be that much of a stretch after all. While the text itself implies that Jesus grew physically, I think that we could have pretty much guessed that He did that without being told, and so maybe Luke had something more in mind that that.     Of course, if you don’t know how to help your children grow physically, the answer is pretty simple. Feed them, make sure they get rest and barring some physical defect the rest will take care of itself. Now, as I said we are not in this lesson going to be talking about how our children grow physically, but rather how they can and must grow physically in the sense of being people of high morals, not abusing their bodies, or wasting their time.     As we strive to raise our children to be successful in every area of life let us remember to teach them to care for themselves physically. This they can do by heeding God’s word in every aspect of their lives including their morals, their physical bodies and their time. If we will teach these principles to our children, then they like Jesus, will grow in stature.

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net

Raising Our Children to Be Successful Intellectually

By Brian Mitchell       Raise Your Hand If You Have Ever Had questions or Doubts about Raising Your Children? I am sure we all have and there are good reasons why this is the case. If you haven’t had any problems you are probably doing something wrong. We all have doubts and questions, because we all want to make sure that we raise our children in the best way possible, providing them with the opportunity to truly be successful in life in all aspects. Raising children is one of the greatest responsibilities any person could take upon themselves.     Yet despite that great responsibility, the Bible says that the truly happy, are those who have been blessed of God to parent children—Ps.127:3-5. The Psalmist is saying that children are our inheritance from God and the lives they go on to live after we are gone will be our true legacy (lasting impression). Whether or not they achieve these goals will depend largely upon how we as parents raise our children.     It is up to us as parents to teach our children about God, His Son, His Word, and His church. To encourage our children to make the right decisions and to teach the standard by which these decisions can be made. To teach our children respect for their fellow man and respect for authority and to discipline them when they fail to show proper respect for either. To show our children what a biblical marriage looks like so that they can seek a mate that will help them to have one. To teach our children what true success is and how true fulfillment and happiness is found.     Thus, if we do not do our jobs as parents, we should not be surprised if our children do not turn out to be the adults we hoped they would be. Fulfilling our role as parents is not something we can start doing when our children are teenagers, by then it is too late. We must teach them right and expect them to abide by those teachings from their earliest years.     “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov.22:6). This verse has been widely abused for years and pressed to teach something it was never intended to teach. Proverbs—are not absolutes, they are general truths or wise sayings which if followed will generally come true. So it is true that if we teach our children the right way to live they will do so, however, it does not mean that they always will.     If our children turn out to not be what we and God wanted them to be, it might very well be because in part we did not do our jobs as parents, but it might not be because of that at all. We can do everything right for our children and they can still turn out wrong. If we wanted to find a child that would serve as a model for how all children should develop; who would that child be? We could not do better than to look at what we know about the childhood development of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.     The childhood of Jesus presents a 4-fold model for the development of children. Jesus grew in: Wisdom—knowledge—intellect, stature—physically—in control of His body, in favor with God—spiritually and in favor with man—socially. Surely we would all admit that if we can help our children to fully develop in these areas we will have done an excellent job as parents. Thus, our lessons will focus of how we can help our children develop in these 4 areas of child growth.

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net

His Mother Mary

By Clifton Angel   “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18).       Scouring information in my digital library concerning Mary, the mother of Jesus, I found some fascinating thoughts of the reality of her motherhood:   1. She was of the creation, but she had the Creator within her. 2. She gave birth to the One who had no beginning. 3. She gave life to “the Life” (John 14:6). 4. Her eyes were the first to see the Maker of eyes. 5. Her ears were the first to hear the voice that spoke the universe into being. 6. Her hand first touched the fingers that formed Adam from the dust of the earth. 7. She changed the Changeless One. 8. She taught words to the Word. 9. She fed the Bread of Life. 10. She healed the hurts of the One who would ... heal hearts. 11. She showed the healer of cripples how to walk. 12. She will at last be judged by Him, but he was first taught by her.     I wish that I could provide you the name of the one who compiled these twelve wonderful truths; however, no name was attached to the document.     For every mother who has ever thought that rearing a child would be a daunting task, Mary is a tremendous example. For every mother who has ever been overwhelmed by the duty of motherhood, Mary is a prominent example. For every mother who has ever experienced the disappearance of their child, Mary is a relatable example. For every mother who has worried her child might be in danger, Mary is a continual example. For every mother who has ever experienced the death of her own child, Mary is a comforting example. She is the motherly example that we will consider in our morning worship.

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/

Mother’s Day

By David R. Ferguson       Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers here at Mentor Church of Christ. Mother’s Day is a day we set aside for celebrating motherhood and thanking mothers. Mothers often receive gifts on this occasion, and it’s one of the busiest days for the Post Office each year. In fact, in 1973 the United States Post Office was so deluged that they were held up for eight days due to the exorbitant amount of mail being sent out to mothers all around the country.     Various countries around the globe celebrate Mother’s Day at different times of the year because it has a number of different origins. Some believe it originated in Greece with the mother worship of Cybele and Rhea. Cybele was a mother to the great gods, and Rhea was the wife of Cronus, a leader of the Titans, the forebears to the Greek gods of Olympus. A festival to Cybele was held between March 15 and March 18, so the people of Asia Minor believe that the custom of Mother’s Day began with them.     Mothering Sunday falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent in the United Kingdom, which comes in late March or early April. Although it has been celebrated for centuries, the origin of this ritual is unknown. Tradition has it that their masters released young apprentices that weekend in order to visit their families. There is some speculation that it is possible Mothering Sunday derived its roots from a Druid pagan practice occurring during the spring vernal equinox honoring the goddess of fertility.     In most countries around the world, Mother’s Day celebrating is a relatively new concept copied directly from western civilization. African countries tend to follow the pattern established by the United Kingdom, while East Asian nations model, promote and commercialize their holiday straight from the United States of America.     The Bible is replete with many stories showing the love and devotion of mothers. Nothing on this Earth is as wonderful to see and to know as a Christian mother, and we are greatly blessed here at Mentor with many wonderful ladies! The wise writer said, "A gracious woman obtaineth honor," and "A worthy woman is the crown of her husband" (Proverbs 11:16a; Proverbs 12:4a). How true are these words! May we always be mindful and treat with the utmost of respect our mothers, our wives, and our friends and sisters in Christ every day of the year.     So happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers who are reading this today! May God bless you! And may you be instrumental in leading your children to the Lord.

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

Who is a Mother?

By Bill Brandstatter       Motherhood is very beautiful. William Goldsmith Brown once stated, “The sweetest sounds to mortals given are heard in mother, home, and heaven.” Abe Lincoln said, “All that I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother.”     Society, however, has changed the concept of motherhood. Now we hear terms like: “two mommies,” and “my baby’s momma” to describe situations that are different from God’s original intentions for motherhood. Let us look at who is a mother from the Biblical perspective.     A mother is not just a woman who has offspring. That is the dictionary definition. It is, however, not totally accurate. A mother is one whose chief aim is “watch over the ways of her household.” (Prov. 31:27; Titus 2:4-5) A woman needs to consider the responsibility of being a mother before she ever has children. Unfortunately, many young women, in a moment of lust and momentary pleasure, create children and do not consider the cost.     A mother is not a female who has a paper from the government saying she is a mother. This is the situation with same-sex couples. God never intended same-sex couples to be parents. The first example of parents is Adam and Eve. The Bible tells us “He created male and female.” (Gen. 5:2) That is God’s original married couple. From that couple came Cain and Abel. (Gen. 4:1, 2) That was God’s original father and mother.     The ideal situation of motherhood involves a man and woman who are married. That couple has children. The woman is a mother and the man is a father. This is God’s ideal. Keeping the home and guiding it is non-negotiable for a Christian woman. (Titus 2:2-5; 1 Tim. 5:14) Children of a worthy woman rise up and call her blessed. (Prov. 31:28) Paul, in describing the woman’s place in God’s plan, writes in 1 Tim. 2:15, “She will be saved in childbearing.” It should be a joy to be a mother. (John 16:21) A woman’s highest calling is to be a mother. “Children are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward.” (Psa. 127:3)

- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/

My Body

By Brian Mitchell        A young lady, a senior in High School, once shared the following statement with her Sunday morning Bible class. “When we date, we start giving each other gifts, like candy and flowers. When a couple gets engaged, they give more special things—like a diamond and other personal things. However, the most personal gift I can ever give is myself. When I marry I want to give my husband the best that I have—I want to give him myself, my whole self as completely as I can.”     If only there were more young people like this young woman in the world today. When it came to keeping herself pure until marriage, this young woman had it right. This does not mean that everyone would agree with her sentiment. When it comes to sexual beliefs and practices in our society, it is amazing how far removed from biblical reality many of them are. What is especially alarming is the continued decrease in the age of those who are sexually active.     Five years ago, the American Journal of Sociology, published the results of a study conducted among 832 High School students. 573 of those students confessed to having at least one sexual encounter in the last year. There were 288 students involved in a network of encounters among one another. 31% of girls had gotten pregnant at least once before turning 20.     According to a CDC report from 2005 nearly 10% of high school students surveyed admitted to having a sexual relationship before the age of 13. There are a reported 19 million new cases of STDS reported each year and half of those occur in individuals age 15-24. What is truly sad is the fact that 40% of those surveyed believed that the pill protected them from such diseases.     If you are a parent or grandparent, I hope these numbers scare you, and they should. I know that this kind of subject is not very popular among us. But although this might be an uncomfortable subject, the statistics don’t lie. The truth is the truth and thus we must talk about sex and other uncomfortable subjects if we are to honor God.     Are there any here struggling with sexual temptations? I don’t know of any for certain but the statistics tell me I would be foolish to believe otherwise. And even if none here are struggling with this, as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Thus, we need to talk about such issues before they become issues rather than after they do. We can do something about a problem before it happens, we can just pick up the pieces after it does. Which sounds better to you?

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net

The Fortune of Family

By Edd Sterchi       One of the most valuable things that God has given us is the concept of the family. Think about it – before God brought forth the societal governmental system, He gave the family. Before God established His church on the earth, He consecrated the family.     After creating the heavens and the earth, God placed a family there (Gen. 1:27-28; 2:21-25). After God cleansed the earth through the global flood, He began anew with a family (Gen. 6:17-18.). It is through a family that God gave His promise of a Savior and through whom all families on earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-5).     The family as God would have it is the moral structure of any successful society. The family is the golden thread that binds a particular group of people to their past, present, and future. The family is where hurts are best healed, victories are best shared, and forgiveness is easiest displayed. The family is the place where love is most at home. Without a doubt, God knew what He was doing when He created the family.     When Paul through inspiration wanted to show Christ’s love for the church and her relationship to Him, he did in family type language (Eph. 5:22-33). And after that, Paul naturally transitioned into a discussion of parents and children and their responsibilities to one another as a family (Eph. 6:1-4).     After looking at all of this Biblical information, we can only come to one conclusion: family is important. Why else would God have connected such vital aspects of His will to the family? Because the family (following the will of God) is the core unit of success and happiness.     Knowing this, it behooves each of us to make our family relationships the best that they can be. We each need to do our part to make our families better and stronger. Only good things will come from this effort.     One last thing – regardless of our earthly family situation, we can be a part of the best family on earth, which is the church. Members of the church are “members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19), and are a part of “the whole family in heaven and earth” (Eph. 3:14-15). Are you a part of God’s family?

- Edd Sterchi preaches for the Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/